Is My Joint Pain Arthritis or Something Else?

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A doctor consulting a patient suffering from knee joint pain.

One of the most common causes of joint pain is arthritis. It is estimated that over 90 million people in the U.S. suffer from some form of arthritis, but it is not the only source of joint pain. If you have joint pain and are above a certain age, you may dismiss it as arthritis, but that may not be the case. Here is what you need to know about arthritis and other types of joint pain, and why you need to know what is causing your pain.

What Is Arthritis?

Did you know there are over 100 different types of arthritis? Technically, arthritis is an inflammation of the joints, which can include a variety of different conditions. Osteoarthritis is what most people think of when arthritis is mentioned – this is the degenerative joint condition that occurs from wear, tear, aging and injuries. While osteoarthritis is by far the most common type, there are many others that can cause joint pain, including rheumatoid arthritis and gout. One thing all arthritis has in common is that there is not a cure, but there are effective treatments.

Other Types of Joint Pain

Did you know that you have over 300 joints in your body? A joint is anywhere two or more bones come together and need flexibility to move. This includes big joints like shoulder, hip and knee, and small facet joints in the spine or fingers. Joints include ligaments, bone, cartilage, tendons, nerves and other tissues, all that can be damaged, diseased or injured, causing pain. Some causes of joint pain that are not arthritis include:

  • Strains
  • Sprains
  • Complex regional pain syndrome
  • Fractures
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Lyme disease

When you have sudden joint pain, it is more likely caused by an injury versus arthritis or other chronic conditions. While arthritis does not have a cure, injuries can be fixed and receiving treatment can help reduce damage to the joint that may result in arthritis later in life.

Get an Accurate Diagnosis for Joint Pain

If you have aching, stiff or painful joints, it may be caused by arthritis or other conditions. It is vital to get an accurate diagnosis to determine the source of your pain – you may be doing more damage to your joints by not seeking treatment. To find the source of your joint pain, come see us at Allied Pain & Spine Institute – we have multiple locations in California for your convenience.

Posted on behalf of Allied Pain & Spine Institute